What is a learnership?

A learnership is a work based learning programme that leads to an NQF registered qualification. Learnerships are directly related to an occupation or field of work, for example, electrical engineering, hairdressing or project management.

Learnerships are managed by Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). They were introduced by government to help skill learners and to prepare them for the workplace.

Learnership programmes can help you to gain the necessary skills and workplace experience that will open up better employment or self-employment opportunities.

Learnerships are based on legally binding agreement between an employer, a learner and a Training Provider. This agreement is intended to spell out the tasks and duties of the employer, the learner and the Training Provider. It is designed to ensure the quality of the training and to protect the interests of each party.

A learnership requires that a learner enter into a fixed term employment contract with the company whilst studying towards a qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which is in line with the learnership (the cost of the qualification falls to the Company). Once the qualification is completed, the learnership will also end.

Why are learnerships important?

Learnerships promote access to education and training, as they allow employees to work on their career while also studying for an educational qualification.

SETAs oversee learnerships and ensure that they offer qualifications related to a specific occupation or sector of the economy. All 21 SETAs have developed NQF-aligned programmes that will help you gain recognised qualifications while getting on-the-job experience.

SETAs manage the registration of learnerships in order to meet the skills development needs across the sectors.

How do learnerships work?

Learnerships require employees to complete a theoretical course as well as practical training, which are done at a workplace, in order to graduate. The workplace component of the qualification involves hands-on, practical learning under the guidance of a mentor, while the theoretical component is provided by an education and training provider. Together they form an integrated and comprehensive learning programme.

Tip: The number of credits needed to graduate varies from learnership to learnership, so make sure that you understand the minimum requirements necessary to complete a learnership. Find out from the relevant SETA.

Who is eligible for a learnership?

Learnerships are available for young people who have completed school, college or learning at other training institutions. You must be older than 16 and younger than 35 to be eligible for a learnership.

Unemployed South Africans can only participate in a learnership if there is an employer prepared to provide the required work experience.

Your career path should be influenced by your interests, skills and strengths. The responsibility rests with you to investigate and research the different learnership options. You should find out as much as you can, including information on the criteria and requirements for entering a learnership.

What are the entry requirements?

Different learnerships have different entry requirements. We recommend that you contact us for the full details on the specific requirements for the learnership of your choice.

For many learnerships, the minimum entry requirement is a National Senior Certificate or National Certificate: Vocational, but there may be more specific subject requirements or even skills requirements such as computer literacy.

Will the learner be paid?

There is a specified minimum learner allowance that must be paid to unemployed learnersin a learnership. This is not a salary but covers expenses like travel and meals.

Note: The amount paid as a learner allowance depends on the SETA, type of learnership and the level of qualification. The allowances and conditions are agreed to with each learner before the commencement of the learnership.

How long does it take to complete a learnership?

Learnerships will last as long as it takes to complete the qualification. This means that if the duration of the qualification is two years, then the learnership will last for that period of time.

What does a learner receive on completion?

During the learnership, learners will be required to complete assignments, tasks and practical tests and projects. They will be formally assessed in the classroom and workplace.

If all these assignments are completed successfully, they will be awarded an NQF-registered qualification that is recognised nationally. They will receive a certificate stating the qualification and the area of skill development.

What is required to enter into a learnership?

Learnership Agreement: this is an agreement signed by the employee, the employer, and the education and provider offering the theoretical training component of the learnership. This agreement clearly outlines the rights and responsibilities of all three parties.

Employment Contract: this is a contract between the employee and the employer, which is only valid for the time period of the learnership.

Can a learnership be terminated?

Yes, a learnership can be terminated under certain circumstances.

An employer can terminate the contract of a learnership if:

• The duration specified in the learnership agreement has expired

• The employer and learner have agreed in writing to terminate the learnership agreement, or if there is no such agreement, the SETA that registered the agreement approves the termination or

• The learner is fairly dismissed for a reason related to the learner’s conduct or capacity as an employee

How much does a learnership cost?

Learnerships are often funded by a relevant SETA. You can apply for funding through SETA when they have discretionary grants available. Since the cost of learnerships varies across SETAs and types/levels of qualifications, you should contact us more information.

The company can also pay for a learnership and benefit from the tax incentives from SARS.

Jargon

ABET	Adult Basic Education and Training
Assessment	A process of gathering evidence and making judgements on a learner's competence against a registered Unit Standard
Assessment Guide	A document describing what will be assessed and what evidence needs to be provided
Assessment Plan	A document used to plan out assessments
Assessment Process	Incorporates all activities that form part of the assessment
Assessment System	Outlines policies, procedures and implementation
BCEA	Basic Conditions of Employment Act
CCMA	Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration
Coaching	A training method in which an experienced individual guides the learner towards acquiring specific skills
Competent	Learners are deemed competent when they meet the outcomes of the Unit Standard
DoL	Department of Labour
EEA	Employment Equity Act
ESDA	Employment and Skills Development Agency
ETDP	Education and Training Development Practitioner
ETQA	Education and Training Quality Assurance
Formative Assessment	Assessments that take place during the training
HRD	Human Resource Development
HRDS	Human Resources Development Strategy
IIP	Investors in People
ILO	International Labour Organisation
Learnership	A work-based approach to gaining qualifications, contains both practical and theoretical work
LRA	Labour Relations Act
LSS	Learnership Support Service
LMSDP	Labour Market Skills Development Programme
Mentor	Serves as teacher, coach, sponsor and sounding-board for learner
MOA	Memorandum of Agreement
Moderation	A process of review that confirms that the processes followed were valid, reliable, fair and consistent
NQF	National Qualifications Framework
NSF	National Skills Fund
NSA	National Skills Authority
NSB	National Standards Body
NSDS	National Skills Development Strategy
NYC	Not Yet Competent
OBE	Outcomes Based Education
OBET	Outcomes Based Education and Training
PAIA	Promotion of Access to Information Act
PFMA	Public Finance Management Act
QMS	Quality Management System
Quality System Audits	Audits conducted by SETA to ensure training providers and employers are providing service of an acceptable level
RDP	Reconstruction and Development Programme
RPL	Recognition of Prior Learning
SAQA	South African Qualifications Authority
SARS	South African Revenue Service
SDA	Skills Development Act
SDF	Skills Development Facilitator
SDLA	Skills Development Levies Act
SDPU	Skills Development Planning Unit (DoL)
SETA	Sector Education and Training Authority
SGB	Standards Generating Body
SIC	Industry Code
SME	Small Medium Enterprise
SMME	Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise
SOC	Standard Occupational Category
SP	Service Provider
SSP	Sector Skills Plan
WSP	Workplace Skills Plan
WSPIG	Workplace Skills Plan Implementation Grant
WSPIR	Workplace Skills Plan Implementation Report
WSPAT	Workplace Skills Plan After Training Report